The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-12-09
TRIED By FIRE.

Marry Mr.. Dysart? That old man?
Mamma, YOU are TESTING"
She stoo at the open window OF the
shaIy Little sittIng-room-at tai, straight
Young figure in a ClInging black gown
A CIR. with n fair. SWEET fac. brown
eyes anil golden hair-l.ucia Denelle.
At the other window-bOth OF which
opened upon great, struggling, unkeF,
Rrounis-a lelirate- looking woman WIS
Den.iing over huge basket OF darnlng-
All sorts AMI conditions OF garments,
all o. a diminutive size, bespoke the oc-
Cupation OF the weary, tOll-wOrn mother
OF smal. children.
Mrs. Drnrile glanced up, with Z pair
Of tiny. d.lapi'lated socks in her ham,,
AMI her tIrei lace grew more careworn,
ami sh suppressed weary sigh.
daughter, the yerv thought OF your
being forced into loveless marriage
breaks my heart. II you 10 not-ran-
not--learn TO care for Mr.. Dysart -
I.ucia shrugce her graceful shoulders
iiS,iainiuliy-'then ! will say no more.
But he is COOL AMI kind. He .rrs TO
settle handsome income upon me, SO
that the children can be properly eIu-
Gated He oilers To lift the mortgage
from this place, and secure Il 10 m. Tree
OF all Incum rance; also to reiUrnIss
and beautifv the house. Really. my
dear, WoOdlawn wouli be n lovely
place, with some ne eSSaTy improve
nents. and with means suiiiCIen TO
keep the grounds IN order. AHi when
! reflect upon our for.orn con it.ol
since youT poor fathers death. AN
glance aisout me At thy. SIX littl' ones
all Younger than YOU. TO bc ted and
clothed AMI educated upon the mere
PIT ance which is ieft me iro your
fathers 3 lie InsurIucy'-it max 5 nay
heart stand still. And Mr.. DysIrt loves
you. Ills ele-ant home - near enough,
50 that | would not have TO lose GU Il
tnl:r.;nvr. n, Lucia. darling, ! wuu.'l
never consent fH you TO 70 Tar ANY,"
"NOt even 10 Italy. mamma q"
The .,Irl sweet face had grown tender
and gentle She came - her mothers
siic, and drew the unfinished nCniIas
irom heT hands.
There, Let me do it, mamma.
Truly am not tired. I've only gwen i
music lesson this morning. Now,
mamma" with q miscnlevous smile,
which dill not courea: t!e undrrcuIrent
oil anxiety IN her heart answer me,
Maynt / so 10 lta.y rs stuart llar.ands :
wI.c2"
"Good heavens"
Mrs. DrneI. st :rted to her feet, pale
an ! trembling Ike lai.
stuart IIarlaut! A poor artist Oh,
Lucia, this IS madness
Mamma, love him :"
Madness -maIneSs D" repeated the
mother bToGeuiy. "Luc.I, / woI Il
rather sec YOU dead, Nou are poor
enough now
Mamma girls face was grave
ant TcsolUte-"l cannot en- 'ure the
thought ol giving you ram. but dp not
love Mark Dysart. an! havc gwen my
whole heart 10 stuart llariInd, and en-
never marry any one else"
Mrs penellr was wrIn-ing her hanfls
in bitter sorrow. Ne .ther OF then o.
served the tall. dark t-ure in the over
grown yroun 5 without. lying At iull
len tn upon the garden sea-, his hat
drawn over his eyes.
4 man OF middle age, with dark
brown hair and bear,l Just touched with
gay, keen gray eyes, and severe Cx-
preston. The TWO Women went on with
the discussion, ami never dreamed o.
the listener without.
Il would not willingly grieve or cross
YOU, Lucia" Mrs. Denclle was saying
sadly, but l shall never give my con-
sent"
Then" - rebclliously "wo shall
either have to marry without II, or
forgive INC, mamma with 4 little cry
oi pain at siunt OF her mothers distress.
NO. | woull never dO that. Tut |
and unhappIneSs and know that That
NO Id Laakc you unhappy, too"
Mrs. l'enelle made no reply, and
Lucia went on with the task before her.
All day lon. she worked, coOkinI, Iron-
in-, and mendIng Tor the noisy, ms
Chievous six, tille'i the time OF overflow
ing. BUT Lucia. pale and patient. worked
away. IN nothing WAS let undon
" hen the sun had set and twilight
hal iallen over the green earth like a
bcnrdi, tion, when the last youngster
was tucked away in his little bed. then
Lu,ia waS n liberty. She threw hceCy
white wrap about her shoulders, and
went out into the dUsky grounds
\ little later stuart Harl nd joined
her. Tall and graceful Was the young
artist with rIrar-Cut ieSturrS. largr.
u.uIuous dark ewes, and n dark mus
tIrh,.; n face TO altTart any woman.
Am! ucia knew how sOoi AMI true hs
WAS, and h"r whole heart was i'll the
kc p'ng oi this nl&n, whose only laCit
was poverty.
la golden silence the two paced on
to,rtl.rr down the tangl d garden path
Al asst stuart Ilar.and turned. ami his
dark evcs met l.uCiA'S with silent
question in t:.,.:r depths. She shook her
cOl en head s.Owy sadly.
"It IS useless. sweetheart" she sal
softly. Il hive spoken 10 mother.
I WISHED 10 prcpIr her Tor your lntcn le,!
interview tomorrow; but, stuart, II e
quite usrlesS-quiie. She wall never
consent TO oUr marriage; anil cam :
hl Ime her. poor little mother IL wuul
b. separation tor US both, perhaps tor
ever. oh. >tuart. Stua I =" the gcsien
head went down upon h.s shoulder. an
th,. sweet voice broke into sobS 22t
fTTN
and YOU shal. not" he nlurmurcd
tend,r!v. we wi, wal. dear love
Il slSII be OIL and grey and ugly"
she ". 5 beg nnsng-
Tut Inc stopped and kissed the sweet
red lips
.I'au NAV ba n oil as Methuselah.
anil ur,y rs = hadgrr-u-lv y"u never
& n a.. under any circumstances. Little
woman,-Eut Won slIa.. Ice INV vile ;u-t
the samc. | WI. never give y"u up
AMI so Their troth waS pc TO-: anew:
and stuart IlarIanrl went :!'':I.e I:s;IC: n
tI,. silvery moonlight VA . ten .'-r
smile upon his .iirs AZ. las dark eyes
shining with happy Int
Il wonder who this fellow can be OF
whom Lucia toid me 10 night. he
lurricd as he M ke1 a.nnS. 1t is a
new arrival here who has purchased
B-cchwood-grandoi Oil p.arc-ani ;-u,'Ia
sa,s sho met him .asI summer Sh:.e
Size WIS away in til West IcHCh-n.
school. : rich western merchant; AMI
by Jove, WHO IS that?'
\ tall, dark form loomed MP before
MIN IN the moon lglIt. an eIierly man,
At rht OF whom Stuart invoiuntarily
hated.
"NIr. IIar'and Is it not ," began the
,s,rang r. quietly II would like few
Word with Won. sir, If yoI please.
stuart bowed
"As many As you like. Mr. -
s.t,,--,rt - ntul,. IA Marx IIvsart.